Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke Among Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Nationwide Analysis

Introduction Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been associated with an increased risk for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). As individuals with cancer who experience AIS tend to face higher mortality rates compared to AIS patients without cancer, recognizing the implications of RCC in AIS is crucial for identifying high-risk patients for major complications and directing management strategies. Objective To examine risk factors, interventions, and outcomes for patients with AIS stratified by their RCC diagnosis. Methods The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried for the period 2010-2019 using International Classification of Disease 10th Edition (ICD-10) codes for acute ischemic stroke and renal malignancies. We assessed demographic information, comorbidities, and clinical interventions between patients presenting with AIS, with and without renal malignancies. A logistic regression model was employed to further examine mortality outcomes. Results Among 1,609,817 patients identified with AIS, 2,068 (0.12%) had a concomitant diagnosis of RCC. AIS patients with RCC were older (72.09 yrs. vs. 70.9 yrs., p < 0.01), more often white (72.05% vs. 68.16%, p < 0.01), and had similar stroke severity scores. RCC patients received less tissue plasminogen activator (tPA; 4.98% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.02) but underwent endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT) at similar rates. RCC patients had more complications (p < 0.01) as well as longer hospital stays (8.19 days vs. 5.98 days, p < 0.01), and higher rates of mortality (11.27% vs. 5.63%, p < 0.01), when compared to their non-RCC counterparts. Propensity score-adjusted analysis largely confirmed these findings, with RCC being positively associated with in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.373, p < 0.01) and longer stays (OR: 2.591, p < 0.01). Conclusion In addition to describing the demographics and clinical course of AIS patients diagnosed with RCC, our study underscores the substantial impact of RCC on AIS outcomes. Despite experiencing strokes of similar severity, AIS patients diagnosed with RCC are at a heightened risk of complications, including thromboembolic events and infections, leading to elevated in-hospital mortality rates and prolonged hospital stays.